SIXTIES.NET

The Astronauts
Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and the Race to the Moon

In the late 1950's, after the then-Soviet Union launched the first
earth satellite, Sputnik, the United States began a race into space.
And in the early 1960's, President John F. Kennedy commited the U.S.
to a Race to the Moon.

While Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gargarin was the first human being to
orbit the Earth, U.S. Navy Commander Alan B.Shepard became the first
U.S. astronaut in space, with his 15-minute sub-orbital flight.

From then on, through Project Mercury, Gemini and Apollo, the U.S.
manned exploration of space was an exciting '60's adventure that,
even through the turmoil of the late '60's, brought Americans
together in a common, astounding goal---to land on the Moon.

Apollo 11, in 1969, celebrated the first manned lunar landing -- continuing into the
early '70's with several more landings and the
almost tragic Apollo 13.

Here are links to the whole grand adventure and souvenirs of that
incredible time!